Electric switch actuator mounting



2,883,496 ELECTRIC SWITCH ACTUATOR MOUNTING Paul F. White, Glen Ellyn, llL, assignor to Furnas Electric Company, Batavia, 111., a corporation of Illinois Application October 30, 1957, Serial No. 693,348

Claims. ((31.200-467) The present invention relates in generalto improvements in the art of mounting electric-current control devices, and it relates more specifically to improvements in the construction of mountings for the actuators of electric switches adapted to be associated with supporting panels of different types.

The primary object of my invention is to provide an improved electric switch actuator mounting which is simple in structure and flexible in its adaptations.

It has heretofore been common commercial practice to mount a group of similar relatively small'switches cooperating with an electrical system upon a common supporting panel adapted to be di'sposed at a selected station where they are conveniently operable and readily visible, and to confine these devices in an oil-tight casing with which the commonpanel is associated. Each of these switch assemblages is ordinarily provided with an independent actuating mechanism having a tubular housing frame for operatively confining the switch actuator and which is insertable through one ofa series'of similar openings in the supporting panel and is embraced by a legend plate bearing indicia for identifying the switch or signal unit with which it is associated.

While the small oil-tight switch and signal actuator and legend plate assemblages for this type of grouped mounting produced by various manufacturers, "are quite similar, some concerns use different methods from others for properly positioning and anchoring the actuator frames of the individual switches to the common supporting panel. At least one manufacturer of "such equipment provides each multiple unit supporting panel with a small hole disposed outwardly beyond but near each tubular actuator frame receiving openingwith which a pin carried by the base of the frame is cooperable to properly position the frame of the unit, and then provides the legend plate of the correspondingunit with a flange or tab cooperable with an external groove in the tubular frame so as to properly position this plate relative to the supporting panel. At least one other manufacturer of such. equipment anchors "the legend plate to the frame and provides the multipleunit supporting panel with a peripheral notch directly adjoining each tubular actuator frame receiving opening and with which an inwardly bent tab or flange on the adjacent legend plate is cooperable to properly position each unit relative to the panel. Because of this dilference in the method of properly positioning the switch actuators relative to supporting panels of 'ditferent types, it has heretofore been necessary for the users of such equipment to either purchase their switch units from one manufacturer, or 'to provide an independent supporting panel for the switches purchased from each of the diverse type manufacturers.

It is therefore an important and more specific object of the present invention to provide instrumentalities whereby the user of this type of equipment may readily mount switch units of either type upon supporting panels having unit positioning and anchoring means of either of the above mentioned forms.

, Another important object of this inventionis to provide an improved legend plate for oil-tight switch units, which can be used interchangeably to either properly position such units of one type relative to a supporting panel, or to permit similar units to be properly positioned relatilve to supporting panels by means other than the legend p ates.

Still another object of the invention is to provide sirnple but effective and inexpensive means for enabling users of groups of small but somewhat similar switch units produced by various manufacturers, to mount such switches upon diverse types of supporting panels.

These and other more specific objects and advantages will be apparent from the following detailed description.

A clear conception of the features constituting the present improvement and of the manner of utilizing the invention to interchangeably mount the actuators of various types of switches upon diverse types of supporting panels, may be had by referring to the accompanying drawing forming a part of this specification and wherein like reference characters designate the same or similar parts in the various views.

Fig. 1 is a part sectional and enlarged front or outside view of an electric switch actuator applied to a fragment of a supporting panel, and wherein the frame of the actuator is positioned and anchored to the panel by an integral pin;

Fig. 2 is a central vertical section through the switch actuator and the supporting panel of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a view similar to that of Fig. l, but showing a modified switch actuator and supporting panel wherein the actuator is anchored and positioned relative to the panel by the legend plate;

Fig. 4 is a central vertical section through the switch A actuator and supporting panel of Fig. 3;

Fig. 5 is a partial exploded perspective view depicting the mode of assembling a switch unit and actuator with a supporting panel, of the types shown in Figs. 1 and '2;

Fig. '6 is a partial exploded perspective view depicting the mode of assembling a similar switch unit and actuator with a supporting panel of the type shown in Figs. 3 and -4; and

Fig. 7 is a similar perspective view of a legend plate which is interchangeably cooperable with either the actuator and panel of Figs. 1 and '2, or withthe actuator and panel of Figs. 3 and 4.

While the invention has been shown and described herein as being advantageously applicable to oil-tight electric switches having pushbutton actuators, of the general type shown in U.S. Patent No. 2,713,104, adapted to be mounted in multiple groups on 'ac'omrnon panel,

comprises in general, a'supporting'pane1 9 having therein a series or group of individual openin'gs'10 and asma'll hole 11 adjacent to but spaced from the periphery of each opening, and an independent switch actuator applicable to each of the panel openings 10 andea'ch having a tubular metal frame 12 insertible through any of the panel openings and beingprovided with an integral base 13 cooperable through a sealing'washer '1'4 with the inner surface of the panel 9, each base 13 having thereon a removable ,pin 15 inserti-ble within the adjacent hole 11 to properly position its frame 12 relative to the panel 9. Each of the switch actuator frames 12 is also provided with outer and inner coaxial bores 16, 11 respectively. separated by terminating at an inwardly di- 'rected flange 18, and the tubular portion of the frame 3v 12 has external screw threads 19 and a series of parallel grooves 20 which intersect these threads formed thereon, see Figs. 1 and 2.

A pushbutton 22 is slidably confined within the outer bore 16 of each frame 12'and has an integral stem 23 passing freely through the flange 18 and provided at its inner end with a cup-shaped disk 24 which is slidable within the inner bore 17 of the frame and is cooperable with a switch assemblage 25 secured to the base 13 to actuate the switch contacts, as depicted in Fig. 5. The bores 16, 17 constitute the sole means for guiding the pushbutton 22 in its axial reciprocal movement, and this pushbutton is constantly urged outwardly by a helical compression spring 26 surrounding the stem 23 and one end of which engages the button while its opposite end engages a reaction plate 27 coacting with the flange 18. A flexible packing ring 28 which is confined within a recess in the flange 18 by the plate 27 coacts with this flange and with the pushbutton stem 23 to provide an oil-tight seal, as shown in Fig. 2.

Each switch actuator is also provided with a legend plate 30 such as illustrated in Figs. 1, 2 and 7, having indicia 31 representing its function thereon, and which also has a central opening therein surrounding the screw threads 19 and provided with inwardly projecting auxiliary and main tabs 32, 33 adapted to coact with the grooves 20 of the tubular frame 12. The indicia or legend on the plate 30 may be of various types, and this plate may be disposed about the axis of the frame 12 so that the main positioning tab 33 will coact with any selected o ve 20 f the series. The legend plates 30 are formed of rigid material, preferably sheet metal, and .are adapted to be clamped against the outer face of the panel 9 by means of an internally threaded ring nut 34 coacting with the screw threads 19 of the frame 12, and these nuts 34 also serve to detachably clamp the individual switch actuating mechanisms to the panel 9.

When assembling switch actuators such as shown in Figs. 1, 2 and upon panels 9 having one or more openings and adjacent holes 11 as depicted in Fig. 5, the tubular portion of each actuator frame 12 having a switch 25 attached, and with a pushbutton 22 and guiding disk 24 assembled therein and a sealing washer 14 applied, may be inserted through a selected opening 10 of the panel 9 so as to position its pin within the adjacent hole 11. I A suitably identified legend plate 30 may thereafter be applied to the frame portion which has been thus inserted, with the main positioning tab 33 undistored and coacting with the frame groove which will properly locate the plate 30 relative to the panel 9 for convenient reading of the indicia 31. Then the ring nut 34 shoulde be applied to the frame threads 19 and screwed into position to clamp the frame base 13 and washer 14 against the inner surface of the panel 9 with the pin 15 confined within the adjacent hole 11, and to simultaneously clamp the legend plate 30 against the outer panel surface, thus completing the installation of the type of switch and actuating mechanism shown in Figs. 1, 2 and 5.

Referring to Figs. 3, 4, 6 and 7 of the drawing, the type of pushbutton switch assemblage shown therein is somewhat similar to that shown in Figs. 1, 2 and 5, except for the panel formation and the mode of positioning each switch actuator relative to the panel. In this modification, the switch supporting panel 9' has therein a series or group of individual openings 10' each provided with a peripheral notch 11' directly adjoining the same, and an independent switch actuator of the same general construction as that previously described is attachable to the panel 9' at each opening 10 with the aid of a clamping ring nut 34 coacting with screw threads 19 formed on the tubular portion of a frame 12. However, some manufacturers do not provide pins 15 on the frame bases and which are adapted to coact with holes 11 in the supporting panel in order to properly position the actuators relative to the panel, but do utilize the legend plate 30 for actuatorpositioning purposes; and the primary purpose of the present invention is to make it possible to utilize the same type of legend plate 30 in order to properly position switch actuators such as shown in Figs. 1 and 2 relative to a modified panel 9 such as depicted in Figs. 3, 4 and 6 as well as to panels 9 such as illustrated in Figs. 1, 2 and 5.

When assembling such modified switch actuators on a panel 9, if the actuators are of the type shown in Figs. 1 and 2, the pins 15 should first be removed, and may be readily broken from the bases 13 with the aid of an implement such as a screw driver 36 in the manner depicted in Fig. 6. The tubular portion of each actuator frame 12 devoid of such a positioning pin, but having a switch 25 attached to its base 13 and a pushbutton 22 and guiding disk 24 assembled therein, may then be inserted into a selected opening 10' of the supporting panel 9' with a sealing washer 14 interposed between the inner face of this panel and the frame base 13. In order to properly position the actuator after it has been thus applied to the panel 9, the main positioning tab 33 of the legend plate 30 should be bent laterally so that it can enter the adjacent notch 11 of the opening 10', whereupon this legend plate 30 may be applied to the tubular position of the frame 12 with the bent main tab 33 coacting with the notch 11 and with a selected groove 20 of the frame 12 and with the auxiliary tabs 32 coacting with the other grooves 20 so as to properly position the switch and its actuator relative to the panel 9'. The ring nut 34 may then be applied to the screw threads 19 to clamp the actuator to the panel 9' as in Figs. 3 and 4.

From the foregoing detailed description it should be apparent that the present invention provides simple and effective means whereby the user or purchaser of either type of switch supporting panel 9, 9 may conveniently attach and properly position various types of switch assemblages relative to such panels. If such user has a switch mounting panel 9 such as shown in Figs. 1, 2 and 5 he can properly position switch actuators of the type shown in'Figs. 1 and 2 with the aid of the pins 15 coacting with the holes 11 of such a panel 9. However, if the user of such switch assemblages has a panel 9 such as shown in Figs. 3, 4 and 6, he may still properly apply and position switch actuators of the type shown in Figs. 1 and 2 with the aid of the legend plate 30 by merely bending the main tab 33 thereof so as to cooperate with the notches 11 of such panels.

This interchangeability of the actuator positioning means affords great flexibility in the mode of assembling such switches on the panels 9, 9' and thus makes it possible to mount and to properly position switches of the type shown in Patent No. 2,713,104 on panels 9, 9 of both types. The user of such individual switches can therefore install switches of several different types on the same panel 9' without additional expense, and while the pins 15 have been shown herein as being formed integral with the'bases and adapted to be broken off, they may obviously be made otherwise removable. Theinvention has gone into highly successful and satisfactory commercial use, and may be applied to switch assemblages other than those specifically illustrated.

It should be understood that it is not desired to limit this invention to the exact details of construction and operation of the assemblages herein shown and described -by way of illustration since various modifications within the scope of the appended claims may occur to persons skilled in the art.

I claim:

1. In an electric switch actuator mounting interchangeably applicable to supporting panels either of the type having actuator receiving openings and a hole separated from the periphery of each opening or of the type having actuator receiving openings each provided with an ade3 joining peripheral notch, a switch actuating member confining frame provided with a portion insertible within selected openings of either type of panel and being provided with external screw threads on one side of the panel and with a removable pin insertible in the adjacent hole in the type of panel embodying such hole to properly position the frame relative to such panel, a legend plate adapted to coact with said frame portion and with the outer surface of a panel of either type and having an inwardly distortable tab thereon adapted to lie fiat in the plane of the plate when applied to a panel of the firstmentioned type and to be distorted into engagement with the notch of the second-mentioned type of panel embodying such notch to interchangeably properly position either type of frame relative to such panel, and a nut cooperable with said screw threads to clamp said frame and legend plate to the selected type of panel.

2. In an electric switch actuator mounting interchangeably applicable to supporting panels either of the type having actuator positioning openings and a hole near the periphery of each opening or of the type having actuator positioning openings and a peripheral notch adjoining each opening, a switch actuator confinnig frame having a portion insertible within selected openings of both of said panel types and being provided with a readily removable pin cooperable with the adjacent panel hole of the first mentioned type to lock the frame in selected position relative to such panel, and a legend plate secured to said insertible frame portion and coaching with the adjacent panel and having a transversely distortable tab interlockably engageable upon distortion of said tab with the adjacent panel notch of the second mentioned type to lock the frame in selected position relative to such panel.

3. In an electric switch actuator mounting interchangeably applicable to supporting panels either of the type having actuator positioning openings and a hole near the periphery of each opening or of the type having actuator positioning openings and a peripheral notch adjoining each opening, a switch actuator confining frame having a portion insertible within selected openings of both of said panel types and being provided with a readily removable pin cooperable with the adjacent panel hole of the first mentioned type to lock the frame in selected position relative to such panel, a legend plate secured to said insertible frame portion and coacting with the adjacent panel and having a transversely distortable tab interlockably engageable upon distortion of said tab with the adjacent panel notch of the second mentioned type to lock the frame in selected position relative to such panel, and means cooperable with said frame to clamp the same and said legend plate against opposite faces of the supporting panel.

4. In an electric switch actuator mounting unit, a supporting panel having an opening, a tubular frame for the SL itch contact manipulating actuator insertible through said panel opening and having a base cooperable through a sealing washer with the inner panel surface, a legend plate embracing said actuator frame and coacting with the outer panel surface in opposition to said washer, and a ring nut threaded on the exterior of the tubular frame and being operable to clamp said base and washer and said legend plate against said panel to seal said opening, said panels in one type being provided with a small hole adjacent to but spaced from said opening and with which a removable pin carried by said base is cooperable to properly position said frame and legend plate relative to the panel, and said panels in another type being provided with a peripheral notch directly adjoining said opening and with which a laterally distortable tab on the legend plate is cooperable upon distortion of said tab to likewise position the frame and plate, and said legend plate being formed for interchangeable cooperation with said panels and frame of either type to efiect proper positioning of the plate relative to the panel.

5. In an electric switch actuator mounting unit, a supporting panel having an opening, a frame for the switch contact manipulating actuator insertible through said panel opening and having a portion cooperable with the inner panel surface, a legend plate surrounding said actuator frame and coacting with the outer panel surface in opposition to said frame portion, and a ring nut threaded on the exterior of the tubular frame and being operable to clamp said frame portion and said legend plate against said panel, said panels in one type being provided with a small hole adjacent to said opening and with which a removable pin carried by said frame portion is cooperable to properly position said frame and legend plate relative to the panel, and said panels in another type being provided with a peripheral notch adjoining said opening and with which a laterally distortable tab on the legend plate is cooperable upon such distortion of the tab to likewise position the frame and plate, and said legend plate being formed for interchangeable cooperation with said panels and frame of either type to effect proper positioning of the plate relative to the panel.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,680,794 Ballou June 8, 1954 

